Patterned Absorbent Stain Guard

ABSTRACT

A patterned absorbent stain guard visually integrates an otherwise unsightly moisture absorbing stain guard b concealing, obscuring, or making more attractive the presence of the stain guard. This enables the user to hide the fact that he or she is using a stain guard. The pattern may exist on the absorbent material, on a moisture permeable front layer, and/or on the moisture impervious back layer. Perforation of the stain guard allows the user to easily customize the size and shape of the stain guard. Perforations may themselves be a part of the pattern of the stain guard. A stain guard, thicker on one end than the other, can be oriented so that one end of the item which the stain guard is protecting is pushed thither away from the source of moisture, thereby increasing the number of angles for which moisture will reach the stain guard.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of moisture absorbing andstain guarding materials and mote specifically to new and usefulremovable strips.

BACKGROUND

As illustrated in FIG. 1, protective strips 400 have been applied to theinside of clothing articles in the prior art, such as the inside neckcollar of a shirt 500, to absorb moisture and protect from stains. Thesehave been commonly marketed for neck collars, hats, helmets, shoes, kneepads, arm pits, and other lining. Typically, such strips are independentof the clothing article which they are meant to protect and arerelatively low cost, removable, and disposable. The problem with priorart strips is that they are easily noticeable when applied and thereforeunsightly to use. The wearer must also apply as many strips as necessaryto cover a target area and must manually cut the strips to conform toparticular shapes and sizes. Additionally, prior art strips are onlyable to protect from moisture exposure from limited angles. Forinstance, in the neck collar application illustrated in FIG. 1, sweatfrom the user's hair line can slide down the back of the user's neck tothe top of the neck collar to stain the collar without ever reaching theprotective strip. A new and useful improvement to the unsightliness ofmoisture absorbing and stain protecting strips, as well as easierconformation to particular shapes and sizes and more comprehensiveprotection, would have the potential to increase usage and sales of suchstrips significantly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention solves the problem of the unsightliness ofmoisture absorbing and stain protecting strips by incorporatingpatterning. A patterned absorbent stain guard visually integrates anotherwise unsightly moisture absorbing stain guard by concealing,obscuring, or making more attractive the presence of the stain guard. Ina preferred embodiment, this enables the user to hide the fact that heor she is using a stain guard. Embodiments include patterns that usecolors, stripes, checkers, surface texture, and other physicalaberrations. In accordance with the invention, the pattern may exist onthe absorbent material and/or on a moisture permeable front layer. Inanother embodiment, perforation of the stain guard allows the user toeasily customize the size and shape of the stain guard to use. Thissolves the problem of the user having to manually cut the stain guard todesired size and shape. In another embodiment, the stain guard isthicker on one end than the other, allowing the user to orient the stainguard so that one end of the article which the stain guard is protectingis pushed farther away from the source of moisture. This solves theproblem of moisture exposure from angles previously unprotected in theprior art. For example, when sweat from the user's hair line slides downa user's neck due to gravity, the greater thickness of one end of thestain guard, when oriented at the top of the inside neck collar, pushesthe clothing collar out of the path of the sweat and allows the sweat toreach the stain guard for absorption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a representation of a prior art moisture absorbing stripapplied to the neck collar on the inside of an article of clothing;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an embodiment of this invention comprised ofthree layers as viewed from the side;

FIG. 3 is a representation of an embodiment of this invention where thepattern may be a color;

FIG. 4 is a representation of an embodiment of this invention where thepattern may be a stripe;

FIG. 5 is a representation of an embodiment of this invention where thepattern may be multiple stripes;

FIG. 6 is a representation of an embodiment of this invention where thepattern may be crossed stripes;

FIG. 7 is a representation of an embodiment of this invention where thepattern may be a checkered pattern;

FIG. 8 is a schematic of an embodiment of this invention illustratingone type of perforations;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of an embodiment of this invention comprised oftwo layers as viewed from the side;

FIG. 10 is a schematic of an embodiment of this invention illustrating anon-uniform thickness stain guard comprised of three layers as viewedfrom the side; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic of an embodiment of this invention illustrating anon-uniform thickness stain guard comprised of two lavers as viewed fromthe side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionis not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments,but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use thisinvention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of this invention 410includes a moisture absorbing material 100, a moisture impervious backlayer 209, and a patterned moisture permeable front layer 300. In thisspecification, moisture may include liquids. The moisture absorbingmaterial 100 can be made from known materials, such as those used incommercially available absorbent pads or stain guards, as recognized bya person having ordinary skill in the art. Such known materials includenatural and synthetic highly absorbent fabric. The moisture imperviousback layer 200 can be made from known materials, such as plastic, andcan be coupled to the moisture absorbing material 100 by adhesive, glue,sewing, or any other means as recognized by a person having ordinaryskill in the art. In one embodiment, part of the moisture imperviousback layer 200 that is not coupled to the moisture absorbing material100 can attach the invention to an item, such as the inside of the neckcollar of an article of clothing, by the application of adhesive thatmakes the invention both easily attachable and easily removable.Alternatively, the invention can be attached from any of its componentsto an item by glue, sewing, or any other means as recognized by a personhaving ordinary skill in the art. The patterned moisture permeable frontlayer 300 can be made from known materials capable of wicking moisture,such as cotton, and can be coupled to the moisture absorbing material100 by adhesive, glue, sewing, or any other in means as recognized by aperson having ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, thepatterned moisture permeable front layer 300 may itself be made of thesame material as the moisture absorbing material 100. In a preferredembodiment, this front layer is exposed to and may make contact with thesource of moisture or staining, such as perspiring skin. In variousembodiments, the pattern enables the invention to integrate with thepattern of the item to which it is applied, either by visuallyconcealing, obscuring, or making more attractive the presence of theinvention. In a preferred embodiment, the user may utilize tins patternto hide the fact that he or she is using a stain guard. In thisspecification, pattern may include coloring, such as shown in FIG. 3. Invarious embodiments of the invention, the pattern may be a stripe (suchas the type illustrated in FIG. 4), multiple stripes (such as the typeillustrated in FIG. 5) crossed stripes (such as the type illustratedFIG. 6), and checkered (such as the type illustrated in FIG. 7). Inanother embodiment, the moisture absorbing material may also bepatterned to integrate with the pattern of the item to which theinvention is applied or with the pattern of the patterned moisturepermeable front layer. In another embodiment, the back layer may also bepatterned to integrate with the pattern of the item to which theinvention is applied or with the pattern of the patterned moisturepermeable front layer.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, another embodiment of the invention containsperforations 600, such that the desired size and shape of any particularinstantiation of the invention can be easily customized by the user. Inone embodiment, perforations can be made by pre-cutting sizes or shapesinto sheets or strips of the invention by various means recognized bypersons having ordinary skill in the art. Perforations can be used toallow the user to determine the size appropriate for protecting aparticular item or to allow the user to use dimensions other than arectangular strip, including circular or any other desired shape. Inanother embodiment, perforations may be integrated with any or all ofthe patterns used in various embodiments of the invention to visuallyconceal, obscure, or make more attractive the presence of theperforations.

In another embodiment of the invention, the pattern may be generated bythe surface texture or physical aberrations in the shape of theinvention. In various embodiments, such a pattern could be produced bypressing, depressing, removing, or cutting sections of the surface orsides of the invention. In various embodiments, such a pattern couldalso be produced by roughness or irregularities in the surface or sidesof the invention generated during manufacture of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, another preferred embodiment of this invention420 includes a patterned moisture absorbing material 110 and a moistureimpervious back layer 200. The patterned moisture absorbing material 110can be made from known materials, such as those used in commerciallyavailable absorbent pads or stain guards, as recognized by a personhaving ordinary skill in the art. Such known materials include naturaland synthetic highly absorbent fabric. In a preferred embodiment, thepatterned moisture absorbing material is exposed to and may make contactwith the source of moisture or staining, such as perspiring skin. Invarious embodiments, the pattern enables the invention to integrate withthe pattern of the item to which it is applied, either by visuallyconcealing obscuring, or making more attractive the presence of theinvention. In a preferred embodiment, the user may utilize this patternto hide the fact that he or she is using a stain guard. in thisspecification, pattern may include coloring, such as shown in FIG. 3. Invarious embodiments of the invention, the pattern may be a stripe suchas the type illustrated in FIG. 4), multiple stripes (such as the typeillustrated in FIG. 5), crossed stripes (such as the type illustrated inFIG. 6), and checkered (such as the type illustrated in FIG. 7). Inanother embodiment, the back layer may also be patterned to integratewith the pattern of the item to which the invention is applied or withthe pattern of the patterned absorbent material.

In another preferred embodiment, the invention may have non-uniformthickness, such that one end of the invention is thicker than the otherend. In a preferred embodiment, the thicker end is oriented by the userto create a larger separation between the article intended to beprotected and the source of moisture. In one embodiment, the inventioncould be applied to the inside of a neck collar with the thicker endoriented towards the top of the collar. When sweat from the back of thehair line slides down the neck of the user, instead of absorbing andstaining the top of the collar, the thicker end of the invention willpush the top of the collar out of the path of the sweat, allowing thesweat to proceed past the top of the collar so that it can be absorbedby the invention. Any of the components or all of the components mayhave non-uniform thickness in order to achieve the overall non-uniformthickness of the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 10, in one embodimentof the invention 430 comprising three layers, the moisture permeablefront layer 320 is thicker on one end than on the other end. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, in one embodiment of the invention 440comprising two layers, the moisture absorbing material 120 is thicker onone end than on We other end. In another embodiment, the moistureabsorbing material may also be patterned to integrate with the patternof the item to which the invention is applied. In another embodiment,the invention may also have a patterned moisture permeable front layer,which may be made of the same material as the moisture absorbingmaterial. In various embodiments the back layer may also be patterned tointegrate with the pattern of the item to which the invention is appliedor with the pattern of the patterned moisture absorbing material or withthe pattern of the patterned moisture permeable front layer. Anotherembodiment of the invention contains perforations, such that the desiredsize and shape of any particular instantiation of the invention can beeasily customized by the user.

A person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and claims, modifications and changescan be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention defined in the followingclaims. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should bedetermined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

I/We claim:
 1. A patterned absorbent stain guard, comprising: an absorbent material capable of absorbing moisture; a back layer impervious to moisture, coupled to said absorbent material, and capable of attaching to an item; and a patterned moisture permeable front layer having a first side coupled to said absorbent material and a second side exposed to moisture, wherein the pattern visually integrates said stain guard with the item to which said stain guard is attached.
 2. The article of claim 1, wherein the patterned moisture permeable front layer is made of the same material as the absorbent material.
 3. The article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is also patterned to visually integrate the stain guard with an item to which said stain guard is attached.
 4. The article of claim 1, wherein the back layer is also patterned to visually integrate the stain guard with an item to which said stain guard is attached.
 5. The article of claim 1, further comprising perforations that allow for customization of length, width, or shape, and wherein said perforations may be part of or integrated with the pattern of the patterned moisture permeable front layer.
 6. The article of claim 1, wherein the pattern is produced by the surface texture of the patterned moisture permeable front layer.
 7. A patterned absorbent stain guard, comprising: a patterned absorbent material capable of absorbing moisture, wherein the pattern visually integrates said stain guard with an item to which said stain guard is attached; and a back layer impervious to moisture, coupled to said absorbent material, and capable of attaching to said item.
 8. The article of claim 7, wherein the back layer is also patterned to visually integrate the stain guard with an item to which said stain guard is attached.
 9. The article, of claim 7, further comprising perforations that allow for customization of length, width, or shape, and wherein said perforations may be part of or integrated with the pattern of the patterned absorbent material.
 10. The article of claim 7, wherein the pattern is produced by the surface texture of the patterned absorbent material.
 11. The article of claim 10, further comprising perforations that allow for customization of length, width, or shape, and wherein said perforations may be part of or integrated with the pattern of the patterned absorbent material.
 12. A non-uniform thickness absorbent stain guard, comprising: an absorbent material capable of absorbing moisture; a back layer impervious to moisture, coupled to said absorbent material, and capable of attaching to an item; and a thickness that is greater at one end of said stain guard than the other end.
 13. The article of claim 12, further comprising perforations that allow for customization of length, width, or shape.
 14. The article of claim 12, wherein the absorbent material is patterned, wherein the pattern visually integrates the stain guard with an item to which said stain guard is attached.
 15. The article of claim 14, wherein the pattern is produced by the surface texture of the patterned absorbent material.
 16. The article of claim 12, wherein the back layer is patterned to visually integrate the stain guard with an item to which said stain guard is attached.
 17. The article of claim 12, further comprising a patterned moisture permeable front layer having a first side coupled to the absorbent material and a second side exposed to moisture, wherein the pattern visually integrates the stain guard with an item to which said stain guard is attached.
 18. The article of claim 17, wherein the patterned moisture permeable front layer is made of the same material as the absorbent material.
 19. The article of claim 17, wherein the pattern is produced by the surface texture of the patterned moisture permeable front layer.
 20. The article of claim 19, further comprising perforations that allow for customization of length, width, or shape, and wherein said perforations may be part of or integrated with the pattern of the patterned moisture permeable front layer. 